Introduction to IFC

IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) is an international standard developed by buildingSMART for the building model data exchanging. It is a class library for Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) objects, such as a wall or a window. IFC is written by EXPRESS of STEP. It takes the object-oriented approach, in which data are organized into a hierarchy of classes.

As IFC is non-proprietary and available globally to AEC/FM software developers, it enables interoperability among AEC/FM software applications, which means the end users in AEC/FM area can share the model data by IFCs. This helps to make interoperability a reality for AEC firms, building owners and authorities that use IFC-compliant software.

IFC Versions

  • IFC Release 1.5 Online Documentation
  • IFC Release 1.5.1 Online Documentation
  • IFC Release 2.0 Online Documentation
  • IFC Release 2x Final
  • ifcXML1 for IFC2x Final and IFC2x Addendum 1 versions
  • IFC Release 2x Addendum 1
  • IFC Release 2×2 Final Online Documentation
  • ifcXML2 for IFC2x2 Final
  • IFC Release 2×2 Addendum 1 Online Documentation

IFC-compliant Software

Implementation Overview [by Jan 2003]

Work Groups

IWG

IFC Implementers
Work Group

BWG

Build
Work Group

FWG

Facilities
Work Group

DWG

Design
Work Group

PWG

Procure
Work Group

MWG

Measure
Work Group

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